28
May
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13 Ways CyanogenMod 7 Makes My Android Phone Feel Future-Proof [Deep Review]

Posted by in Development, EVO 4G (Supersonic), News, Other Reviews, Phone Reviews, Reviews, Tips & Tutorials
Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

After spending almost a year with my EVO 4G in what was essentially rooted stock condition (Fresh ROM, based on stock Sense, minus bloatware), I finally got frustrated to the point that I was ready to make the jump to CyanogenMod and see just how much better the fully unlocked stock Android experience with CM improvements is.

The Sense ROM offered by Fresh, even in its supposedly optimized form, was starting to get quite slow and would sometimes start choking for no reasons whatsoever. Whenever I was installing apps, I could forget about getting any useful response out of the phone - I had to wait till it was done in order to avoid frustration.

24
May
htc-evo-3d_video-300x265

Confirmed: EVO 3D's Bootloader, Recovery, and Kernel Images All Locked Down

Posted by in Android OS, Development, EVO 3D (Shooter), HTC, News, Sprint
Last Updated: June 1st, 2011

Update: If you've somehow inexplicably ended up at this article, please note, HTC has since announced the 3D will be unlocked (at some point) and their future policy is to have unlocked bootloaders on all devices.

It seems HTC has finally caved to what are likely the security demands of wireless carriers with its newest phones, and is locking down its handsets Moto-style. Latest case in point: the EVO 3D - which sports the same sort of security we found on the Sensation earlier this month. In other words, good luck cracking into this thing.

Before we get any further, there seems to be some confusion on what exactly is "locked down." Let's clear that up: the bootloader image itself is not encrypted.

08
May
hi-256-0-cebb14a080486962e8ce1e8c18391aa11bb390f6

ADW Launcher EX Gets Major Update: Theme Management, Honeycomb Support, And More

Posted by in Applications, News

It's been a while since the last ADW Launcher EX update, but it may just have been worth the wait. The author of ADW EX has implemented some major changes and fixes for version 1.3.0. Check out the change log below:

ADWLauncher EX v1.3.0

Changelog:

  • Completely redone the app drawers code from scratch to improve memory usage and scrolling performance, even with transparencies, live wallpapers, etc
  • Scroll snapping on the vertical drawer/4d drawer “a la launcher 2″. (option enabled by default)
  • “True” home screen looping (enabled by default) ported from ADW2.
  • New theme management screen with added functionality (and more will come)
    • Dock and dockbar background customization moved into the new theme management screen.

07
May
android-tweak-20110201162950

[Weekend Poll] How Important Will Customization Be In Determining Your Next Android Purchase?

Posted by in Android OS, Polls
Last Updated: September 3rd, 2011

It's that time of the week again folks - time to hit the polls. This week's question is one that'll allow you to express what you think an Android handset should let you do in terms of customization, modification, and other various tinkering (think rooting, custom ROMs, kernels, etc). Basically, we want to know how important it is for you, as a consumer, that your next phone be easy to customize. Or if that really isn't important at all.

Let us know in the comments what ROMs, rooted apps, and other goodies only available to the rooted/unlocked users among us that you just can't live without.

15
Apr
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Updated Fresh 4.0 ROM For HTC EVO 4G (Beta) Now Serving Delicious Gingerbread To All Donors, Includes Fast Boot

Posted by in Development, EVO 4G (Supersonic), Gingerbread 2.3, HTC, News, Sprint

Flipz, the developer of Fresh ROM for the EVO 4G and the HTC Hero, has been quiet since the release of Fresh 3.5, and it's no surprise - Sprint hasn't pushed out anything to our beloved EVOs in months. Since Fresh is a Sense ROM that follows official releases, as opposed to being built from AOSP like CyanogenMod, I didn't really expect to see another Fresh release until either the next leak or an official Sprint release.

With the arrival of a test build carrying Gingerbread for the EVO 4G yesterday, the situation changed - while being a test ROM, it seemed relatively fully baked and signed by Sprint's release keys, meaning its authenticity was undisputed.

04
Apr
Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-X10-Android-phone-550x550

Sony Xperia X10 Bootloader Finally Gets Cracked, Now Accepts Custom Kernels

Posted by in Development, News, Xperia X10 (es209ra)

Owners of the Sony Xperia X10 around the world are rejoicing, because after a long wait, the previously locked bootloader has finally been cracked. What does this mean, you ask? In a nutshell, it means that the X10 can now handle custom features that other Android devices have had for some time, like kernels that allow for overclocking/undervolting, native USB/Wi-Fi tethering, removal of the 32fps cap, and a myriad of other tweaks.

devicez

This wondrous deed was achieved by XDA member zdzihu and announced late Thursday night, but no one was quite sure if it was an April Fools' Day joke at the time.

27
Mar
4_ogo

Updated: CyanogenMod 7 RC3 Now Available For Inspire 4G, Nexus One, MT4G, G2, EVO 4G And More

Posted by in Android OS, Desire HD (Ace), Desire Z (Vision), Development, EVO 4G (Supersonic), G2 (Vision), Gingerbread 2.3, Hero (Sprint, HeroC), Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), Legend, myTouch 4G (Glacier), News, Nexus One (Passion)

That's right folks - CyanogenMod7 RC3 is up for grabs, and we'll be posting the devices it's available for as they come in. Here's the links we have so far:

We'll keep this list updated as more devices are added.

27
Mar
droid-x-25de-460

Breaking: Download Leaked DROID X Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) Update

Posted by in Development, Droid X (Shadow), Gingerbread 2.3, Motorola, News, Tips & Tutorials

TeamBlackHat has publicly released a leaked official Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) software update build for the Motorola DROID X. To install the update, you must have the DROID X Bootstrapper by Koush. Instructions and download links below:

Installing Firmware
1. Download this file from the TBH app or one of the mirrors below
2. Use Bootstrap to get your phone into recovery.
3. Create a backup (This is not compatible with new firmware)
4. Install the Firmware using recovery

In Recovery:

1. select install zip from sdcard
2. choose zip from sdcard
3. navigate to teamblackhat folder
4. select the file you downloaded

5.

19
Mar
o3Rmp2

HTC Thunderbolt Bootloader Unlocked, ClockworkMod Recovery Loaded, ROM Floodgates Opened

Posted by in Development, HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha)

That didn't take long. A collaborative effort between numerous Android hackers just managed to crack the Thunderbolt's bootloader wide open, successfully booting a custom recovery image. They also incidentally discovered a new root method in the process. Credit goes to jcase, jamezelle, and scotty2 (and all of andirc) for working out the details, and ProTekk and Trident for putting their shiny new Thunderbolts on the line. Here's the visual proof:

o3Rmp2 s-off22

Image credit: Trident, ProTekk

We'll keep you apprised on the situation with instructions on how to go about unlocking your own Thunderbolt as we get more information.

18
Mar
M4aZ5

Updated: HTC Thunderbolt Takes A Page From Moto's Playbook: Bootloader And Recovery Are Locked

Posted by in Android OS, Development, HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha)
Last Updated: March 22nd, 2011

Update: Bootloader and recovery are both locked and signed. See new screenshot.

Update #2: The device has been rooted, and its bootloader has been unlocked!

Some of our good friends over at AndIRC (most thanks going to scotty2 for discovering it, and Trident for being the guinea pig) have discovered a bit of troubling information regarding the HTC Thunderbolt: its bootloader and recovery are locked. What does that mean, exactly? No custom ROMs - for now. Some enterprising hackers successfully flashed a custom recovery image onto a T-bolt, but lo and behold, upon entering the bootloader, no recovery boot option was to be found once the flash had been completed.

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